Hairpin



SePt- 9 1952 A. v. RICHETTI 2,609,825

HAIRPIN Filed May 16, 1950 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 :UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIRPIN e Anthonyv. sichern, Jamestown, N. Y. l application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,370

` '-5 Claims.

This invention relates to hairpins and more particularly to the type that includes a pair of arms which, through their spring-like action, serve to clamp onto and grasp and hold locks or strands Vof hair.,` `Hairpins ofV the class to `which the invention relates are commonly known as bobby-pins and all such pins are made from spring-like material in order that the arms may have some measure of clamping action-on strands of hair for `the purpose` of holding such strands in a given position. Many such hairpins have been developed and placed on the market and, to some extent, have servedtheir intended purpose. However, if the manystray hairpins, that `can be observed almost anywhere, are any indication, it would appear that currently available hairpins of this type are not entirely satisfactory. This is `indicated not only from the fact that these pins actually drop out of the coiffure in which they are placed, but also from the readily observed necessity of a user Vof such hairpins to ordinarily 4apply an excessive number of them in order to secure any given coiffure inf place.

It might be mentioned that the-manufacturersor increased the spring-like or clamping action by changing the material of which the pins are made or by enlarging or otherwise altering the contacting portions of the arms. The whole purpose here was to increase the clamping effect of the pin arms, on the assumption that any'increased clamping pressure in the arms of straight, or crimpedA pins, would give desired results.

Following considerable study, applicant has discovered that it is not merely necessary to clamp strands of hair to keep them infplace but such strands must be undulated in a direction transversely of their length. Also, that these undulations must be of only slight extent, numerous, and the clamping action of the pin causing such undulations must be sufcient to produce this result but insuilicient to so bend or deformthe strands that they will break. In this connection, it is pointed out that the hair of one person differs materially from the hair of another person in strand size, stiiness, textura-etc., and that pins placed on the market, to give satisfaction, must be capable of gathering andsecuring strands of hair in any position without becoming loosened or causing hair breakage.

It is believed the present invention discloses a structure that fully meets the requirements of individual and commercial users in that such structure is well suited to and serves its purpose adequately in the maintaining of coiffures without the need of considering the quality or condition of the hair of the user, and this therefore constitutes an important object of the invention.`

to secure them in a given position without dan-A ger of hair strand breakage, or without possibility of pin loosening.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following speciiication, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing; and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a hairpin embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially as suggested by the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 isa plan view showing the smaller intertting arm on top; p

Fig. 4 is a further plan view showing the receiving arm on top;

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the hairpin arms and shows approximately the undulations of strands of hair as produced by the arm;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as suggested at 5 6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. '7 and 8 are plan views of modifications of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral Il) is employed to generally designate a hairpin embodying one form of the invention. The pin comprises a pair of arms II and I2 that, at corresponding ends, are integral with a closed or U-shaped end I3.. The pin is formed from spring-like material and the end I3 serves to normally urge arms II and I2 into desired pressure contact. Arm II consists of a straight member of usual hairpin length. However, this arm is preferably somewhat wider than the usual hairpin arm and, through a portion of its length, is provided with a series of slots I4. The slots I4 are of elongated nature and, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are rectangular. Preferably, these slots are of uniform length and spacing and extend from adjacent the leg endA suggested at I'I, and the loop I8. of the end Ill is of much narrower stock. This `lesser width of stock is continued throughout the length of leg I2.

Leg I2 is shown to be shorter than leg I I solely for the purpose vof more readily enabling a user of the hairpin to separate the ends when the hairpin is to be engaged with strands ofV hair. Throughout a considerable portion of the length as to be capable of partially projecting into the Continuing from the endmost slot I4 of leg II. bend 22 is a reverse or upwardly directed bend 23 which at all times is above and out of contact with the leg II and spans the area of the leg II between the first and second slot I4. The number of undulations or .alternate .downwardly and upwardly directed bends depends .on .the length of the hairpin and, of course, the .sharpness of said bends. In the present disclosure four downwardly -directed bends .22 are shown and 'four upwardly directed bends 2S. From the last, upper bend 23, the leg l2 curves downwardly and then upwardly to blend with the closed end This last -partial .bend 24 is .accommodated in the slot I6.

Due to the spring action of the closed end 1.3, the hairpin, when not in use, appears substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. That is, `the lowermost bends 22 and -24 project into and partially through the slots i4 Yand I`6. The extent to which .the legs interfit is, of course, limited by contact with the ends of the slots .I'fl and, of course, if agreater or lesser intertting o'f the legs is desired, the length of the slots i4 will be correspondingly altered.

Fig. 7, a modification of the structure described, shows a hairpin 26 that includes a leg 2l having slots 2.8 and 29 that differ from slots Ill and IVG only at their ends. The ends of these slots .are rounded, as indicated at 3l, it being believed that .with certain conditions or qualities of hair the intertting of bends with this type of slot might be more eiicient.

With reference to Fig. 8, it will be noted that a hairpin 32 is shown lto have a leg 33 in which slots 34 are generally diamond shaped. Here again, it is believed that this shape slot will also be better suited for use in securing strands of coarse or heavy hair by reason of a less accurate and close intertting of the bends of the other leg of the hairpin with thisshaped slot.

Attention is now directed to Figs. and 6 of the drawing wherein applicant suggests, as nearly as possible, the .actual manner in which Astrands or locks of hair are separated and clamped between the legs of the pin. Of course, the 'legs of the pin are separated against the .springlike tension of the closed end I3, Following this, the opened end is slipped onto a .lock of hairand, upon releasing the legs of the pin, the lower .bends 22 crowd `hai-r into the slots I4, forming them into generally U-shaped bends. The hair is not -bent to an extent that it is subject lto breakage and yet is bent or undulated to an extent that the pin cannot readily slide or slip, or the strands become displaced. 0f course, ycertai-n strands will be locatcd'in the space 36 between ythe upper bend 23 of leg I2 andthe solid area between slots I4. Here strands lof hair Vwill be clamped to at least the same extent `that strands .are -now clamped by conventional hairpins and it is believed that with this clamping added to y:the clamping action effected by bending the hair as suggested in Fig. 6, the pin will firmly hold in place.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of hairpin in which locks or strands of hair are bent or undulated to provide an improved clamping or securing action and several forms of slots for the inter'fltting of the legs of the hairpin, it will be understood that variations of this structure may be made and are 4contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit vand scope ofthe invention as set out in the Vannexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A hairpin comprising a pair of legs connected at corresponding ends by a curved resilient part, one of said legs being formed with a series of uniformly spaced elongated slots -arranged in the direction of the leg length and extending from adjacent the .resilient .part to `the leg end, a series of undulations extending throughout a considerable portion of the length of .the other of `said legs and .adapted to .intert said slots.

2. A hairpin comprising a pair .of legs, agenerally U-shaped end portion integral with corresponding endsof said legs, .one of said legs being formed with a series of lidentically proportioned and spaced slots arranged inthe direction of the length of .said one leg and .extending from yadjacent said end portion toward the leg end, uniformly sized .andspaced undulations formed in the other of said legs, alternate undulations being adapted to .interfit said slots.

3. A hairpin comprising a pair of rsubstantially coextensive legs, a return .bent end portion integral with corresponding ends of `said legs, said portion being spring-like and normally causing said legs to have pressure contact throughout their length, one of said legs being formed with a series of elongated slots arranged lengthwise of said one lleg and yextending from the one leg end toadjacent said end portion, Vundulations formed in the other of said legs, alternate undulations projecting into said slots under `com-- pulsion of saidspringlike portion. f

4. A hairpin comprising a pair of substantially coeXtensive legs, a spring-like portion integral with corresponding ends .of said legs, one -of said legs being Vformed with a vseries of .uniformly spaced -slots arranged in the direction of the length of the leg, a series of rounded .bends `extending from that face of the other of said legs adjacent the -i'lrst mentioned leg, lsaid bends being spaced lengthwise of -said other leg -to normally project into said slots kunder compulsion of .said spring-like portion.

5. A Yhairpin comprising a pair of substantially coextensive legs, a spring-.like -portion integral with corresponding ends of said legs, one of said legs being formed with a series of uniformly spaced slots arranged in the direction of the length of the leg, -undu-lations formed in the other of Vsaid legs, said undulations being so sized and 4arranged with respect to the lirst mentioned leg and the slots therein as Ato be capable -of securing alternate strands of hair by deflection and clamping.

ANTHONY V. RICHETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record' the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,783,108 Cady Nov. 25, 1930 1,834,153 Harms Dec. l, 19.31 2,014,328 Hawkinson Sept. 10, 1935 2,536,448 Klar Jan. 2, 1951 

